ESEP Download Resources : UP-date May 2009
Welcome to the May 2009 issue of UP-date, the e-Newsletter for the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programmes
PROGRAMME NEWS
Second Round Awards
First Minister Alex Salmond has announced a cash injection of almost £95 million in European funding that will be directed towards Scotland's economic recovery through programmes to develop the workforce, safeguard and create jobs, and regenerate communities.
Under the Second Round of funding a total of 129 projects across Lowlands and Uplands Scotland will benefit from £70.2 million in new allocations from the European Regional Development Fund and £24.7 million in allocations from the European Social Fund.
Lists of projects that have been awarded grant under the Second Round are now available to download.
Third Application Round
The Key Dates for the Third Application Round of the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programmes were agreed by the Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) and are now available.
Programme Monitoring Committee Dates
The Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programme Monitoring Committee will meet on the following dates:
- 27 May 2009
- 28 October 2009
- 17 March 2010 (provisional)
- 27 October 2010 (provisional)
Summer Events
ESEP Ltd will be holding a number of awareness-raising events in preparation for the Third Round of funding under the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland European Structural Funds Programmes.
Seminars will cover both ESF and ERDF and provide potential applicants with:
-
An update of progress made to date in delivering the Programmes
- The current commitment levels and availability of funds under each Priority
- Details on the scope of eligible activities under each Priority
- An overview of the National Rules on Eligibility and compliance requirements under the Programmes
- Practical information on the stages and processes involved in applying for funding through the €UROSYS online applications system
For more information on venues and details of how to reserve a place on one of the seminars please visit the Events Diary
Call for Advisory Group Nominations
In anticipation of the Third Round of applications under the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland ERDF and ESF Programmes, Scottish Government is once again seeking Nominations for Membership of the Advisory Groups and encourages individuals and organisations who have not previously participated to consider becoming involved. Support and training for all Advisory Group members will be provided on the scoring process and use of the €UROSYS system. Further information is available in the Decision Making section.
OTHER NEWS
Extension to 2000-2006 ERDF Programme
A decision on the proposed extension is expected to be made by Ministers early in the week beginning 11 May 2009. Further details will be published on the ‘Latest News’ section of the Scottish Government European Structural Funds website
Highlands and Islands Third Round Awards
In March 2009, First Minister Alex Salmond announced the Third Round ERDF approvals for the Highlands and Islands Programme. A total of 16 projects and 2 Community Planning Partnership Plans were approved.
Approvals for projects funded under the Third Round of the ESF Programme were also announced in March by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. 33 projects were approved alongside 2 CPP Plans for Orkney and Shetland.
The full project approval lists for both funds are available from the Highlands and Islands IAB website
Translational Medicine Research Collaboration
A new £11.6 million core research laboratory for the Translational Medicine Research Collaboration (TMRC) was officially opened by the First Minister Alex Salmond in Dundee on 21 April 2009.
The Centre is a collaboration involving Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities, their corresponding health boards, Scottish Enterprise and global pharmaceutical company Wyeth. The European Regional Development Fund provided financial support for the building of the Centre under the 2000-2006 Programme period.
The partnership aims to raise the commercial profile of Scotland's translational research and has already created more than 100 high value jobs across the universities, NHS and at the core laboratory in Dundee.
The full press release is available on the Scottish Government website.
Barca Report - an agenda for a reformed Cohesion Policy
On 27 April Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Fabrizio Barca, Director General in Italy’s Ministry of Finance and Economy, presented the findings of the ‘Barca Report’ which sets out the rationale for a European Cohesion Policy and puts forward recommendations for a comprehensive reform based on ten ‘pillars’:
- Concentration on core priorities
- A new strategic framework
- A new contractual relationship, implementation and reporting
- Strengthened governance for core priorities
- Promoting additional, innovative and flexible spending
- Promoting experimentation and mobilising local actors
- Promoting the learning process: a move towards prospective impact evaluation
- Strengthening the role of the European Commission as a centre of competence
- Addressing financial management and control
- Reinforcing the high-level political system of checks and balances
Further information can be found on the DG Regio website
European Fisheries Fund
Almost 40 projects in Scotland have secured financial support through the latest round of European Fisheries Fund awards. In all, 39 companies are to be awarded funding totalling £2.9 million as part of the second portion of investment through the EFF. This will help secure 597 existing jobs and create 55 new ones. The successful projects are spread across the fishing, processing and aquaculture sectors, which together are worth over £1 billion to the Scottish economy.
Full details of the recent awards are available from the Scottish Government website
Social Enterprise Fund
Disadvantaged young people will be given the chance to undertake work placements under one of the first projects to be supported by the Scottish Government's £1 million Social Entrepreneurs Fund. The new fund was launched to get new social enterprises off the ground, enabling them to help get people into work and keep Scotland's economy moving. The fund opened in March and will run until the end of March 2011. A total of £500,000 will be invested each year, with awards varying in value from between £500 and £20,000.
For more information visit the Firstport website
Life sciences apprenticeships
Details of a new Modern Apprenticeship Framework for Life Sciences have been announced. The Life Sciences Modern Apprenticeship for Scotland will have a positive impact on Scottish recruitment, retention and upskilling within the Life Sciences Sectors attracting younger people, from schools and colleges, into the sector and benefit those already working in the sector to acquire recognition, skills and qualifications.
Job Vacancy at ESEP Ltd – Development Officer Post
ESEP Ltd is currently looking to recruit a Development Officer based in the Inverkeithing Office. Closing date for applications is Friday 22 May 2009. For an application pack call 01383 413141 or download from the Vacancies page.
